Letter-printing apparatus



Oct- 9, 1928.

v E. B. PYLE LETTER PRINTING APPARATUS Filed May 19, 1923.

' I'll IN VENTOR 4 Sheets-Sheet izngaaja Arrohmzys Patented Oct. .9, 192a.

UNITE srrs i Y weasel ear ET, lorries,

' ELMER BRADFORD BYLE, OF NEW Ni Y.

LETTER-PRINTING- M nama.

Application filed. May 19,

This invention relates to l tter printing apparatus and particularly to "apparatus of the charaoteremployed for printing letters in such manner. that they shall simulateletters printed upon a typewriting machine, and

the invention is directed to the provision of J.

an improved letter printing apparatus.

It is not infrequently desired to send to a large number of different addresses, letters which are substantially identical except for the address itself. The ideal letter of this character should not be distinguishable from an individualtypewritten letter and, in order to attain this-result in a letter printing apparatus which is adapted to produce such letters in large quantitles and at a reasonably low cost, various machines have'been constructed in the past, but these only approximated the result desired and none of the machines of which I am aware actually produces a letter which is completely indistinguishable from a typewritten letter.

The means usually employed for print-- ing addresses upon circular letters is an address plate of relatively thin metal, in the surface of which the characters. constituting the address are embossed. It has heretofore been necessary, however, to placethis'relatively thin address plate within a protecting frame, or holder, for the purpose of preventing injury to the plate while passingthrough the printing apparatus, and to provide surfaces of uniform dimensions and outline, to adapt the address plate to be handledby an automatic machine which, in some cases, prints the body of theletter and the address at'the same operation, and, in othercases,

address will be printed in properali 'gnment 'with the body of the letter, and thisiis true even. when the address and body of the letter,

are printed at one operation" in the machines of the prior art. Furthermore, it not infrequently happens that a portion of the address plate frame or holder will come in contact withthe surface of the letter paper and cause" undesirable lines or blurs to appearon the letter, i

1923. serial no. 640,085.

A further disadvantage of the machines of impression and even printingof the letter.

the prior; art is to be found in the means now iin use for adjusting the elevation of the surfaces of the type both in the body of the let; terand in the'addr-ess so as to secure an even If the relatively short lines of"--type which frequently occur at the ends of paragraphs and in the address have their type surfaces at precisely the same elevation as the full- --leng t-h lines of type, when the 1 impression roller 18 moved over the type to print therletter t-he short lines of type will "be printed inuch he'avier than-the full length lines, with the result that these short lines standout boldly in contrast with the remainder of. the letter.. v

' The method of correctingthis difie r-enee in impression whichis in meat present is to removeithe type frame orffchase. fromthe bed of the machine, turn thls typeframeLu'p-I side down upon a flat surface, and paste thin strips of paper alongthe bottoms of the full length lines solthat, when the type frame is again placed, in upright position in themachine,- the surface of the'full length linesof type will be elevated slightly above the surface ofthe short lines. This initialprepa-v is called, consumes arelativelylarge amount of time; and requires theenperience of an operator who. is possessed of considerable g Silll.

ration of the chase,or make-ready, as it For printing the address simultaneously with the body of aletter,I--have discovered-- that an address plate of relativelyithin sheet 7 metal-can be used in its, original form just as it comes from the. embossing machine and without theemployment of any, supporting frame structure or holderwhatever, and, in accordance with mthe invention, I have pro-c vided means for utilizing such: an unframed address platefor this purpose. In carrying out the invention. an address plate carriage is provided, having means -.for.removably holding an unframed address plate, and this carriageis so arrangedas to be slidable to print ng: position in which the address plate is brought-underneath. the 'inkingribbon in as close proximity as is desiredto the body of the type for printingthe body of the let ter. The carriage is slidable in the reverse direction to a position beyond the ribbon to permit, the re'moval'ofthe address plate and the insertion of a similar p1ate,in,the same position as previously occupied by the first plate, for the printing of the next letter.

The body of type for printing the bodyof i'sfi'tioninthe machine. The form of the'ad'ju'stable support whi'c-lrl prefer to employ ftoi each-line of type a wedge -sl'niped member "whi'cli'isadapted to be slid tra iisversely of "thety e body, that is", longitudinally of the line of type which the meniscisupports, and {I arrange these wedge 'i'n'en'ibe'r so that they maybe actuated to adjust the heightof the iiueerty'pe withoutremoving the type body from the printing apparatus.

My immune further contem lates"cert i aevei'ieaters of construction which will be understood from the following description of theinvention which is illustrated, by way of exaiiiple,- in the accompanying"drawings;

' 1' isa plan View of my improved'letter printingapp'aratus with the inking ribbon J tr kn may to show-the parts beneath it;

Fig. 2 i s'a' vertieallongitudinal-section of nae-apparatus taken; on line 22 6 1 Fig. 1, 1 ands'how'in'g the address plate carriage in the printing po'si't n i Fig". 3 is also a vertical longitudinal. sec

tion take" showing the address plate carriage the secondoroutward position;

in the same as Fig. 2 and Fi 4 'is' a plan View ofth'e address plate carnage;

en on line 5-:5 of Fig. t and also including a parties; r e t pename;

Fig.6 is-a; vertical cross sect on taken on Fig.7 is a view in perspective of a'n'un f rained address p1ate';-'

members;

7 Fig. 8) isa plan View of the type frame the type therein being broken away;

Fig. 9 is a vertical cross'sect-ion taken' on "line 9-'aof-Fig. 8, showi g an adjustable we'dge shapec'l n'i'einber supporting a line of- Fig. 10 is' an enlarged view taken on line t c-reef Fig. s to illustrate one means of laterally adjusting onset the wedge s'haped Fig. 11 is also an; enlarged view which is "lake npn line 11' 11 of 8 to illustrate how the lines of typsareea h independently suppbr'ted by a separate Wedge shapedmenn ber; i r r 12 is a'view similar to Fig.8.showi'i1g a modification 'ofthetype frame;

Fig. 13 1s a vertical cross section of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1 with the impression Fig.5 avertical longitudinalsection takv roller inclined to accommodate the type frame shown in Fig. 12;

Fig. lt is an enlarged fragmentary cross secti n taken on line 14'1l of Fig. 12 Fig. 15 is a transverse section taken on line 15-15 of Fig. 12 and Fig.16is a view of a modification of Fig. 9. Referring to Figs. 1, 2 and 3 of the accompa'ny-ing drawings; there is represented a supporting v apparatus to the upper portion oi which there is secured the type bed: 21-. A type "frame 22- in which there is placed a body of type 2 3 for printing the body of a'letter-is carried on the upper surface of the type. bed 2 1. An extension of the type bed isg-provi'ded upon the front end of the letter print-ingapparatus (which is to the right as viewed in the drawingsl and this extension may corisist ofa steel plateQet' of about the sameth-iClzn'es's as the type bed plate,-th-is'plate24 being rigidly secured to theunderside of a pair of steel bars 25 which are securely. it'astened respectively, upon each side of the type bed and extend longitudinally thereof throughout substantially the entire. length of the machine.

' This construction of the typebed extension insures that the uppersurfaceof theplate 24:

shall be approximately levelwith this type fraine for the letter printing bed itself and constitutes a particularlyrigid supporting surface upon which the address plate ca r'riage'Q-Gmay slide longitudinally of the machine to and from its printihg-posi-I tion (Figs; 2 and 3); A cross barQ/Y is used to tie'together the outer ends of the longitudinal bars 25 and serves as. a support for limiting the outward movement of car riage26. v

The address plate carriage 26 is provided with means for renio ably supporting an unframed ,address plate 28, of relatively thin metal; such as zir'rcQi-nproximity to the inner end of the cai'riage,jso as to place this. address plate in proper relation to the type 23 for the body of the letter when the'carri age is loo slid to its inner position. An inking ribbon v 29 is supported so as to beauton atically ed over the surface of the type longitudinally of the type bed, the means for supporting and automatically ,i efedin this ribbon comprising apairot ribbon rolls 30and 31.

An impression element consisting of a'suitable roller 32,- which is usually provided with a surfaeeof rubber or similar resilient material, is mounted an appropriate carriage '33 adapted to beinoved by means of the hanta-i'ned on the type plate 28, and the date type 36, at one operation; r

The ribbon roll 30, which is located atthe back of the machine, is disposed beneath the dle 34 over the longitudinal surface of the .type bed. Thisoperationbrings a sheet of letter paper 35 into printing relation with a the surfaces of the type 23, the type'conplane of the type surface and thus allows the impression carriage 33 to be moved over this roll and thereby reduces the space occupied by this operation of the machine.

The other ribbon roll 31' is supported above the plane of the type surface in order to allow the address plate carriage 26 to slide under the ribbon, and this roll is mounted in bearings 37 which may conveniently 'be secured to the sidebars at a distance in front of the type body 23 sufficient to allow the proper travel ofimpression carriage 33 so as to make a complete impression of the entlre letter, lIlClt'lCllIlg'thB date and address.

These bearings 37 are so constructed that 38 on the type bed extension, adapted to co act with the sides of the carriage 26 as it is slid back and forth from the inner, or printing, position to the outer, or plate-removing position. These guides 38 are arranged to be laterally adjustable with respect to'the type bed and for this purpose a pair of steel rods 39 are providedforeach of the guides 38, these rods passing, through closely fitmeans of the set screws 42,;which are thread ting apertures 40 in the side bars 25, their inner ends beingtapped into the guides 38 at 41; In this manner the rods39 are secured to the guides 38 and serve as guide members to maintain the guides 38 in paral lel relation with the sides of the type bed.

They may be adjusted to guide the address plate'carriage 26 in the proper path to carry address plate- 28in .proximity to the body of the letter with one end of the address type alwaysin accurate alignment with the ends of the'lines of type in the body of the'letter. When the guides 38 have been adjustedxto this position, they are securely clamped by ed into the side bars 25, so that their inner ends will bear against the'rods 39. These rods may be provided with heads attheir outer endsfas shown, in order to limit" the inward movement of theguides 38. V

In order to hold the date type 36 in proper relation with respect tothe b'ody of the let-' ter, a small type frame 43 may conveniently be secured to one'of the guides 38, as shown 7 in Fig. 1, and the date type may be set up in this frame in the usual manner.

type bed in the ordinary manner independently ofguide 38. v m

The construction of'the address plate car riage 26 is as follows: A metal block 44 (Fig.

"4), somewhat widerthan the length of the address plate and 'long'enough to clear the pose or However, if desired, frame43 may be clamped to the ribbon roll 31 when the carriage is in the printing position, forms thebody of the car rlage. The inner end of thisblock preferably-is constructed with an overhanging projection 45 whichis adapted to extend over thefront frame member 46 of thety'pe frame "22 in order to bringthe address plate 28 as close as possible to the type body. 23. This plate 28 is held in removable position onthe r of theguides 47 and 48 and the flexible fin- I ger 49. The guides 47 and 48 consist of i upper surface of the carriage 26 by means relatively thin strips of sheet m'eta'l secured to the inner end/and left hand side, respec tively, of the body 44' by any appropriate means, such as rivets or screws, and the upper edges of these relatively thin plates pro-- ject above the surface of the body 44'- a dis tance which is approximately equal to the thickness'of the address plate-28, as may be seen'in Fig. 5, and theseprojecting' portions of theiguides '47 and 48 are preferably bent slightly toward the-address plate soas to more effectively graspthe edges of the plate to hold it in position. A flexible finger 49 is of screws, to a longitudinal'bar 5O whichcxtends from the front end of the-body 44toward the inner end thereof to avpoint near ffixed at one end in any suitable manner, as by means of a -pair addressplate28. Bar 50 is preferablyrectangulari'n cross section and moves in a closefly fitting slot or groove 51 provided in the surface of vthe carriage bcdy44'. Flexible finger 49 proyects inwardly from the end of the bar 50 and preferably widens out, as" shownm Fig; 4, to provide a relatively long line-of contact with the address plate 28, the.

inner'end of thisflwidened portion'having a surfaee52 adapted to make frictional engagernent with the upper surface of the relatively thln' sheet metal plate 28, and'also-haviing' a snrface 53 adaptedgto co-actwith the edge of plate 28 opposite the guide'47, for the purpose of hold ng the plate against this guide. Near the frontend of -the carriage-26, a handle 54 is attached to the bar '50 by which flexible fin 49may lee-withdrawn from the position shown in Fig. 4 so as to'release it from engagement with plate 28, for'the purremoving this address plate andiir serting a diiferent one in place of it; A pin or screw so placed in the upper surfaceof bareOf that rt'comesin contact with the stationarystop 56 secured to the carriage body 44 soon after the plat'e28 is released by finger49,-and thecdactiorifof pin 55 wit-h stop 58 results in the-sliding of the address plate carriage 26 when a continued pull on the handle 54 is exerted. i

For the purpose ofaccurately adjusting the elevation of the surface of the type in address plate 28, the carriage 26 is provided with the three adjustingscrews 57, which are threaded Qample; insteadot, constructingthe car; body tlQl a solidblocl: otinctal, a steel or casting, such'as illustrated in Fig; 6, may be used; or by elevating somewhat the supp ing plate 2-lthe thickness and weight of the carriagemay be materially reduced-.-

fit)

carriage 26 slides. located near the inner end eat the carriage and the third near its outer, or front, end-,2 thus providinga three-pointsupport for thee-arthe-thickness of a line of t have-their ends brought into contact with the type bed upon thesurtace of which the Two'of these screws 57 are riafge upon the surface of the type'bed. 7

The construction of carriage body a l may be varied to a considerableextent. For

Returning now to the description oi the type frame this element of the letter printingi machine ismade with three of its sides 58- (Figs. 1 and 8) of usual thickness and strength, but, the front end 59 of this frame ma'y,i-i desired.= be reduced to approxin'iately yp'c.-

By causing the add? plate ca" extend over the end tranx, the position-of the address'plate withrespect to the type body is made extremely flexible, and it is possible to print the address relatively close to the body of the letter, even when the lowest line oi the address type is impressed at some distance from-the edge of theplate.

Referring now to Figs. 8

to l-lof the accoman in drawin 's details of the construction 01f the type traih h 22 are here illustrated. A bottom member 60 is securely fastened to the side members 58 of the type frame, the upper surface 61 thereof beingi-nclined' (see Figs. 9 and 10) A )lura-lity of wedge-shaped members62 rest upon thebottom member 60, these wedge-shaped members havin-gthei-r lower surfaces inclined by an amount correspond 'ing' to the inch-nation of surface 61, so that the upper surtaoes 63 of the wedge-shaped members are horizontal.- The number of these wedgeshaped members 62 corresponds withthe numberof linesof type which the 7 frame 22"israd-a-pted to carry, so that each line of type is individuallysupported by one ol":

these wedge-shaped members in 'co-operation with the bottom 66. The outer ends oit members 62: extend into recesses beneath the side memb rs 58- and' are held in transversely slidv able relatiomwith the bottom member 60. V

- til) In order to impart a transversemovement tolthese members 62, a plurality of adjustingpins 64 are tapped :intoone oftlie side members 58, the number these pins correspond ing to the number ofthewedge-shaped members 62, land each of these screws 64 being); arranged to engage its corresponding; wedge member. as Wlll be seenin Figpl'O where a cross section through a single one of these adjusting "pins 64 is illustrated. By referring to this figure,

an eccentric projection 65 will be seen on the lower end of pin 64;, and this projection'fits riage to closely into a drilled hole in the head'i66vot its corresponding wedge member .62. Thus, by inserting a screw driver in the exposed slot 67 in the upper end of the adjustingpin, it may be rotated and the eccentric motion-of the projection 65 will cause the wedge 621'30 slide laterally ofv the type frame. I i

The maximum lateral movement of the wvedge member is obtained by rotating screw 6a through an angle of 186 and the dinien sions of the screw and the inclination of the enacting inclined surfaces are so propo'rtioned that a suliicient yertical movement. will thereby be imparted to the type 23to effectany vertical adjustment of any: of the lines of type which are toundto print more heavily than desi o'd. As shown in Fig. 11,.the upper on the surface of plates of relatively thin metal, such as zinc, or the These address plates are ready tobe used in my improved letter printing apparatus as soonas they come from the embossing machine, and" without turther operatio'n of any kind, such as framing them in a plate holder. 7

t The type 23""01 the body/of the letter is "set up infraine'22, and, at the commencement of this operation, all the wedge-shaped memhers-62 are slid over against the righthand frame member 58 '(Fig, 9), in which position the uppersurfac'es 63 of all of these type supporting members lie 1 in thesameplane.

The type 23 is then set upzin the usualmanner and any short lines of type, such, for example, as those which may occur at the'e-nds of; paragraphs, are lowered.slightlygby-turning the adjusting screws 64; corresponding inserted intthe letter printingapparatus in the position shown in Figs. '1, 2' and 3, and

viduallines.

"to these short lines. The type frameis then An; address plate I 28 is then placed against the guides 47 and, L8 and the flexible finger 49 moved into p y mea sfof handle 54 whereby the address-plate is firmly held in positlon upon the carriage 26. Carriage 26 is now moved to 1ts- -1n ward: position, bringin-g the address plate into close proximity to the type 23 of the body of the letter. The

left hand edge69 of, then-address type is V aligned-bythe eye, or by means; ofa straight edge, with-the'left hand edge; 70ofthe'type 2-3by sliding the gu-ides dig laterally of the type bed, and when'this alignment has been accomplished the set screws 42 are setup to hold the guidesSS firmly in place, care beingtalten that there is a close sliding fit between the carriage26 and the guides, so that the carriage will slide freely but not admit of any side play.

Then the inking ribbon. 29 is placed in positi-onover the type surfaces by placing theribbon roller 31 in its r movable bearings 37. A protecting outline stencil or guard of thin cardboard may 'now be placed over the ribbon to prevent the letter paper from coming into contact withthe ribboneXcept was in the type areas.

A sample impression is next taken by laying a sheet of letter paper over the type surface and moving the impressionvroller 32 throughout a full stroke by means of the handle 34c. If, after examination of the sample impression, it is'found that further adjustment is necessary, either in the elevation in thesurface of the'type or in the alignment of the address plate, such adjustments may easily be made by simplylifting the 1 stencil and the inking ribbon 29 so as to expose the adjusting screws 64 for the indi- .vidual lines of type. The adjustment of the alignment of the address plate may be made without even removmgthe ribbon 29, inaslunch as theaojustments of the carriage 26 are always accessible. I a

. ir'fi'el'tllfl machine is in complete adjustment, the requisite number of'copies of the letter to the various addresses may be made,

' a new address plate 28 being inserted for each impression. In order to remove the old ad.

dress plate and insert a new one, theoperator pulls upon'the handle 54 which first releases flexible iinger 49 fromthe address plate which has just been printed and then, by. continued n'essure upon the handle 5 the, pin engages stop 56 and causes the carriage 26 to be moved to the outer position, as shown in Fl g. where the address plate is. exposed beyond the ribbon roller-o1 andrnay be reand another one placed mm d by the tinge s,

against the sto 3S Zl-Tan'd d8. Then b ressing upon the handle 54 in the opposite direction, flexible linger 491s caused to engage the new address plate 28 and hold t firmly in the propenposition against the guides. Further pressure upon handle 54 moves the carriage26 to its inner position, where the address plate 28 is brought agam'lnto printing position ready to print the new letter Referring now to the modifications of the ype frame which are illustrated in Figs. 12 to 16, the inclination ofthe bottom of the typeframe referredto previously is essen-' tially aninclination of this surface with respect to the surface of the impression roller,

. and this may be accomplished in several different ways. The essential requirement is that the wedge-shaped members supporting the individual lines oftype be so propor tioned with respect to the angle-which-the bottom of the type bed makes with the in} pression roller, that the surface of each line of type is supportedjin parallel relation to the surface of the impression roller.-

In the apparatuspreviously described, the

impression element is horizontal or, in other printing apparatus, the upper surface of the .wordspparallel with the bedof the letter' bottom of the type frame'is inclined with re-'" spect to theihorizontal, and the wedge menu bers which rest upon the bottom have thesame angle of inclination, hence they sap= port the lines of type in horizontal position parallel with the horizontal impression roller.

In, the modification of the construction of the type frameshown in-Figs. 12'to l5,- tlie impression roller is inclined with" respect to I the horizontal type bed so that it is unnecessary to incline the surface ofth'e'bottom of the type-fraine,;and, inasmuch as the angle between the upper and lower surfaces o f the impression carriage 33 travels; also'at. the

same time raising the resilient track. 72, on which the drivingwheel 73 rolls.[ The bottom ,7 t ofthe type frame 75 consists 0f=afiat" metal plate of uniform thickness. andfthe wedge members'ZG are 'metalbars'having the same angle between 'their upp'er and lower" surfaces as the angle of lDCl1I1Lt1QIIOfthG a asof 1mpress1on roller 32'w1th respect to the way, the upper surface"of'the type 23 is su ported in parallel relation with respect to j the surface of the impression roller; The op-"= erationofthis apparatus is equally as good 3 horizontalsurface of type-bed 21.. y In this as theoperation of the apparatus .hav inga' horizontally "mounted impression roller.

The construction of the type frameand of r the individual *wedgesmay also be'inodi-r fi'ed'in other respects. "Instead of utilizing l in the adjusting pins 64-, shown in'Figs. Ste 11,.-

for thepurpose of sliding'the wedge'members horizontally, the construction illustrated I in Figs. 12fto 15 may be employed. As hereshown, the bottom plate 7 4 of the type frame is secured to the side and end members'of the type frame, this frame being made of appropriate size and shape-for the letter printing apparatus with which it is to'be usedLHAn intermediate bar 77 is rigidly secured be-j tweentheend frame members, as by the means; of the screws 78, this. bar being spaced from" they are provided with recesses 81 in which a pronged adjusting tool maybe inserted. By meansof this instrument, the wedge members may beslid transversely of .the type frame to etfectthelrelative adjustment of the elevation ,of thesurfacesof the individual lines of type with respect to the surface of the impression roller.

In Fig. 12 ,ithe maj orityiof wedge members 76 are in their normal ,position in which they vareshoved over to the *leiit as far as possible and in which the lines vof type supported thereby are at thesame, and maximum, elevation. A .few of these :wedge members such as those indicated by reference numeral 82,

however, have been slidto the right in order to drop the s-ur facesof the 'linesof type supportedby these members by varying distances with respect to the remaining lines of type and also'with respect to the surface of the impression roller; The lines supported by wedge nembers82 being short lines of varying .lengthwould, if they were held at the same elevation as the long lines of type, be printed in relatively .heavy type and impair r the appearanceof the finished.letter.

The-type 23 is setup in thety pe frame in-the. ordinary manner, the usual furniture '83, and84. being usedto fillup the spaces between .the margins -.of .the :type and the sides of {the type frame. 'Adjusting screws arethreaded through bar 77 in-posi-tion .to bear upon the surface of the furniture strip 84'so.

as to clamp the type firmly in ,place afterthe proper adj u'stmentof the short lines has been made. Glamping screws 86 are-also provided.

in one end of the .type frame which are poslt-ioned so as to coactwith the wedge memhers and .clamp the entire body of wedges longitudinally of the type frame against the end opposite these screws.

These clamping screws are also tightenedup after theadjustment -,of the short lines has been made so as to retain all of the wedge members in the positionstolwhich theyhave been adjusted.

In Fig; 16 there illustrated a modified form of type .frame having EtH.lI1Gll116Cllb0t-' tom z'for use on .a letter printing machine in I which the axis ,of the impression roller is horizontal. In the form of iconstruction shownin Figihtheebottom plate 60 isthinner at the left-hand edge than at the .rightqryin otherwords,the bottom itself vis wedgeshaped in cross section. The upper surface of the bottom of the type frame shown in Fig. :16 :is inclin'ed, although it consists sofa flat metal plate 87 of uniform thickness.

elevating one side of the type frame, for example,the left hand side. A convenient way of supporting the elevatedside is by means of two or more screws 88 threaded vertically through the side frame and cooperating with the surface of the type bed 21. Thus, by turning these adjusting screws the surface of, plate 87 may be inclined by an amount which will compensate forthe angle of the wedge member 76 resting thereon and bring the up-' per surface 90 of the type into parallel relation with the type bed '21 and with the surface of the impression roller (not shown). i

The use of these various modifications eitherin placeof or in conjunctionwith the letter printing apparatus described in cone nection with Figs. 1 to 11 effects the mode which issuch that it is very diflicult to distinguish them. from individual typewritten letters inasmuch as the impression is uniform throughout the body of'the letter, the address, and the date; and the address is in perfect ali 'nment with thebody of the letter.

Moreover there are no impressions caused by the holder of the address plate, as in machines of the prior art. In addition to securing a better quality of product than'by any other apparatus ofwhich I am aware, the invention produces .this result at a considerable saving .in:cost, because of the simplicity of the improved apparatus which makes it relatively inexpensive to manufacture, and because no frames or plate holders are required for the address plates. This latter item in itself is a veryconsiderable one, especially where it is desirable to circularize an address list of several thousand names.

Icla'im: I ,7 1., An apparatusv of the character described comprising, a type 'bed, a body ofv type carried thereby for printing the body carriage beingslidablein theplane of the type bodyto printing position beneath said ribbon to bring the addressplat e into lprox imity to-said body 'oftype and to a position beyond the ribbon to permit the removal of the address plate. A i

'2. An apparatus ,of the character described comprising, a type bed, a body of type carried thereby for printing the body of a letter, an impression element movable over .said type, an inkingribbon between'the type and the impression element having a fixed supportingroll disposed above the type surface and beyond the limit of movement of said impression element, a-n' address'plate carriage provided with means for removably holding an address plate, said carriage belng slidable to a position inside of said supportmg roll to bring the address plate into proximity to said body of type beneath the inking ribbon andalso being slidable to a 7 sition beneath said ribbon and to a position beyond the ribbon to permit the removal of the address plate, and means on said car; riage for removably "holding an untrained address plate of relatively thinmetal.

I slidable to printing position beneath said rib- 4. An apparatus of the character described comprising, a type bed, a body of type carried thereby for printingthe body of a letter, an impression element movable over said type, an inking ribbon between the type and the impression element, an address plate carriage bon and to a second position beyond the rib bon to permit the. removal of the address plate, and means on said carriage for removably holding an unframed address plate of relatively thin sheet metal, saidmeans comprising guides for two edges of said plate, and a flexible finger movable into a position in contact with the upper surface of the plate.

I 5. An apparatus of the character described comprising, a type bed, a body or" type'carried thereby for printing the body of a'letter, an

impression element movable over said type, can inking ribbon between the type and the V impression element, an address plate carriage,

slidable to printing position beneath the said ribbon and to a second position beyond the ribbon to permit the removal of the address plate, and means on said carriage for removably holding an unframed address plate of relatively thin sheet metal, said means including a flexible finger movable into position in contact with the upper surface of the late. p 6. An apparatus of the character described comprising, a type bed,'a body of type carried thereby for printing the body of a letter, an impression element movable over said type, an inking ribbon between the type and the impression element, an address plate cars riage slidable to printing position beneath said ribbon and to a second position beyond the ribbon to permit the removal of the address plate, and means on said carriage for removably holding an unframed address plate of relatively thin sheet metal, said means com-- prising guides for two edges of said plate, and

a flexible finger slidable into frictional en' gagement with the upper surface of the plate and having a portion adapted to co-act with an edge of the of said guides. V

7. An apparatus otthe' character described comprising, a type bed, a body of type carried therebyfor printing the body of a letter, an impression element movable over said type,

an'inking ribbon between the type and the inn 'pression element, an. address plate carriage slidable to printing position beneath said r1b-- lion and to "a second position beyondthe ribbon to permit the removal of theaddress' plate to hold it against one plate, and means on' said carriage for remo'v-; l

ably holding an unframed address plate of relatively thin sheet metal,said means como prising a guide for the ,inneredge otthe address plate'secured to the inner end'of said carriage, a second guide for-one end of the address plate disposed near the side of said carriage, and a flexible finger slidable longitudinally of said carriage for engagingthe upper, surface and the edge of the address plateopposite to saidfirst mentioned guide.

8. An apparatus of the character described comprising, atype bed, a type surface carried" thereby for printing the-body of a letter, an impression element mova'bleover said type surface, an inkingribbon betweenthe type surface and the impression element, an address plate carriage mounted'to slide longitudinally of the type bed to carry an address plate into and out of printing position adjacent the front end "of said body of type, meanson said carriage for removably holding an unframed address plate, guides operatively positioned ill) to'coact with the address plate carriage,and I means for laterally adjusting said guides in the letter. I

order to align the address with the body of comprising, a type bed, a type surface carried thereby for printing the body 'ofa letter," an impression element movable oversaid type.

holding an unframed address plate ofv rela tively thin sheet metal,-means for vertically adjusting said carriage to level the address type with the type for the body of the letter, guides cooperating with said carriage, means for adjustingsaid guides to bring one edge p of the address type into ahgnment with one edge of the type for the body of the letter, said carriage being slidable longitudinallyot the type bed to bring the address plate nto.

9. An apparatus of the character described meansincluding a flexible finger cooperating carried thereby for printing the body of ,a 10

letter, an impression element movable over said type, an inking ribbon between the type and the impression element, an address plate carriage slidable to printing. position .beneath the ribbon and. to a position beyond the ribbon to permit the removal of the address plate therefrom, means on said'carriage for removably holding .an address plate, said with the upper. sur-faceand one edge of the address plate,-anda handle for said carriage for sliding it to and from the printing position, said handle beingoperatively associated with said flexible finger to automatically release :the address plate as the carriage is l withdrawn from the printing position.

' 11. ':In an apparatus of thecharacter described, the combination of a'type ,bed, a body of type thereon, an impression element, and means for adjusting the elevation ofindividual lines of-type with respect to the type bed, said means being operable while the body of typeis in printing position upon the type bed. i a

12. The combination with ,anapparatus-of the character described, of-atype frame provided with wedging means slidable withgrespect thereto for independently adjusting theelevation of the surface of individual lines of type.

, '13. An apparatus ,of the character described comprising, a type bed, a typeframe carried'thereby andholdinga body of type V for printing the body of a letter, an inking ribbon supported in operative position above the surface of said type, and an impression element movable thereover, said type frame being provided with meansfor vertically adjusting individual lines of type while the body of type is 1n printing position upon 2 the type'bed. I

14:. In an apparatus ofthe character ,de-

scribed, the combination of an impression element having aresilient surface, and means for adjusting the elevation of the surface of individual lines of type with respect thereto, said means being capable of actuation while the typeremains in printing position,

15. Thecombination with an apparatus of the characterdescribed, of a-type framehaving cooperating wedging members, one for each lineof type, and means for sliding one ofthese members horizontally relative to the other to cause aivertical adjustmentof the line of typesupported thereby with respect to the remainder of thetype body. 16. The combination with an apparatus of the character described, of atype frame having a .bottom member the upper surface'cf which is inclined transverselyof said frame, each line of type being suppo'rtedby a Wedge shaped .transversely slidable member resting upon said inclined bottom surface, and

means ,for sliding eachwedge-shaped member transversely of the bottom surface of the frame to effect a vertical adjustment of the individuallines oftype. 4

17. An apparatus ,of :the character ,described comprising, atype frame, an impression roller supportedat an angleto the'bottom of said -f1:'.a 1ne, a;plura1ity of wedge members resting upon said bottom and each supporting a vline of type with its surface parallel to said roller, said .membersbeing slidable upon said bottom to provide for adj usting theelevation of the surfaceofindividual linesiof type with respect ,to the surface of the impression roller.

18. The combinat1on, w1th an apparatus of t I the character described, of a type frame having a side member, abottom member, a plurality of wedge-shaped members restingon saidbottom and eachsupporting an individualline of'type,.and,a corresponding number of adjusting .pins rotatably mounted in the type frame, each havingan eccentric projection on its bottom end cooperating .withan aperture in its corresponding wedge-shaped member to impart a transverse ,movement to the wedge -shaped member rotated.

, Intestimony whereof ;I E aflix my signature.

7 ELMERBRADEORD PYLE.

when said screwls' 

